All Chapters of Hired Fiance: Chapter 91 - Chapter 100

Emma's POV The way he looked at me, the way his touch had lingered, sent shivers down my spine. I hated that he could still affect me, that despite everything, there was a part of me that still craved his touch, his attention. But I couldn’t let myself fall into that trap again. I had to keep my distance, to protect myself from the pain he could so easily inflict.I crawled into bed, the sheets felt cold against my skin, and I stared up at the ceiling. Tomorrow would come soon enough, and I needed to be ready. Ready to face him again, to fight against the pull he had on me, and to protect the life I had built for myself and James.As I closed my eyes, the last thought that crossed my mind was of Ryan’s face, the way his eyes had darkened with that mix of determination and something else. Something I couldn’t quite place, but that terrified me all the same.Tomorrow would be another battle, another test of wills. But this time, I wouldn’t run. I couldn’t afford to.I would face him he

Emma's POV My heart pounded in my chest. “It’s not any of your business, Ryan. But let me tell you, and I told this to Cade as well, repeatedly, that I’m not interested.”Ryan’s voice grew even colder. “I don’t want any more distractions. And if you think you can use your position to attract attention, think again. You belong to me. Now come to my office immediately.”The possessiveness in his tone was suffocating. He made it clear that despite our strained relationship, he considered me his domain. His comments about “belonging” to him were infuriating and humiliating, Cursing him, I went to Ryan's cabin and he made good on his threat. The workload doubled, and the pressure was relentless. Files piled up on the desk, each one more urgent than the last. Every time I thought I had a moment to breathe, another task would appear, and Ryan would be there, watching, waiting for me to break.But I refused to give him that satisfaction. I worked late into the night, pushing myself to the

Emma's POV Flashback....I wanted to trust Ryan, to believe that what was happening between us was real, that it wasn’t just another illusion, another charade that would eventually crumble and leave me more broken than before. But trusting meant being vulnerable, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that. Not yet.So, I decided to focus on the present, on the small moments that made me feel alive, that made me feel something other than the numbness I’d grown so used to. The way Ryan’s hand felt when it brushed against mine, the way his eyes softened when he looked at me, the way his voice wrapped around me like a warm blanket when he spoke. Those were the things I clung to, the things that kept me grounded, even as the storm of emotions continued to rage inside me.And maybe, just maybe, if I held on to those moments long enough, I’d find the strength to take that leap, to step off the edge of the cliff and into the unknown. But for now, I was content to wait, to let the tension buil

Emma's POV Ryan’s expression softened, and he leaned in slightly, his hand finally settling on my cheek. “Emma, you’ve been through a lot. It’s okay to feel conflicted. You don’t have to have all the answers right now. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. We’ll figure this out together, no rush.”I closed my eyes at his words, a wave of emotion crashing over me. How could he be so understanding? So patient? It was everything I needed, but also everything that scared me. Because deep down, I knew that once I let my guard down, once I allowed myself to fall for him completely, there would be no going back. And that terrified me.It terrified me because I was concerned about him. “Ryan,” I said, my voice trembling," I can’t give you what you want. I don’t want you to regret this later.”“Why would I ever regret wanting to be with you?” he asked, his tone filled with genuine bewilderment.“Are... you even... listening?” I stammered, “I told you, I don’t think I’m capable of loving anyo

Emma's POV Flashback..." Emma, will you please marry me and make me the happiest man on this planet? " He asked. Tears welled up in my eyes as I nodded slowly. “Okay,” I whispered. “Okay, Ryan. I’ll marry you.”A smile broke across his face, the purest, happiest smile I had ever seen. And in that moment, I knew that, despite all my fears and doubts, this was the right decision. Because with Ryan, I felt something I had never felt before—a sense of belonging, of being truly seen and accepted for who I was.As he kissed me, softly and sweetly, I felt the first flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t as broken as I thought. Maybe, with Ryan’s love, I could learn to love myself and, in turn, love him the way he deserved.My heart was in my throat. “Ryan, I’m scared,” I admitted.“I know,” he said, his thumb gently caressing my cheek. “But I’ll be here, every step of the way. You don’t have to do this alone.”And for the first time in a long time, I allowed myself to believe in